Ladder



im@ w, 1923. l 1,459,350

F. VENIERO LADDER Filed Dec. '7, 1920 Patented June 19, i923.

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FRANK VENIERO, OF MORENO STAGE, CALIFORNIA.

LADDER.

Application led IDecember To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, F RANK VENIERO, a citizen of the Unitedl States, residing at Moreno Stage, in the county offRiverside and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Ladder, of which the following is a speciication.

This invention relates to ladders and more particularly to those for use in groves of citrus trees where lightness, rigidity and adaptability for use in many peculiar situations are important.

The objectr of the invention is to provide such a ladder so constructed that yit may be handled with one hand and readily inserted among` the branches of trees of thick growth without breaking the limbs .or injuring the bark.

Another object is to provide such a ladder equipped with means for penetrating its supportingy surface and holding the ladder vsecurely against slipping.`

Another object is to provide a ladder especially designed for pruning fruit trees yor picking fruit and which is equipped with means to prevent scarring of the trees when the ladder is supported by straddling a limb with its lower end. p i

`With these and other objects in view, tho invention consistsl in certain .novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out `in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure l represents a front elevation of a ladder embodying one form of this invention.

F ig. 2 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the i lower end of one of the side bars of the ladder, and,

Fig. 4f is a front elevation showing another embodiment of the invention.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig, l the ladder l constituting this invention comprises two parallel side bars 2 and 8 converging at their upper ends as shown at et, said ends being rounded and united at their terminals as shown at 5 at a point in alinement with the center of the ladder. The lower end of each of the bars 2, 3, is reduced as at 2', and which provides a continuous shoulder 3.

The side bars 2, 3, are connected together member 8,

7, ieee. vsei-iai No. 428,394.

by cylindrical rangs 6, whichv are of a length sufiicient only to support one foot of the user, so that the minimum lightness will. be provided;y

Securedto the reduced end of each of the side bars, is a metallic cap, which consists of a rectangular upper portion 7 and a pyramidallower portion 7.' The rectangular upper portion 7 of the cap is secured to the side bar bythe hold fast devices 5, and the size 'of the said rectangular upper portion 7 of the cap, is such `that the outer face of said rectangular yupper portion- 7 will be flush with the outer face of the side bar. The cap members arel positioned 'against the shouldersv 3" The lower portion of'each of the cap members is hollow. f

Arranged belowthe lowermost rung lof the lladder is a support engaging member 8,

of the side bars.

here shown inthe form .of a semicircular strip of metal having a protective facing 9,

on its lower side, and which facing, is composedof any suitable material, preferably rubber, to prevent scarring of the support in connection with which the `ladder is used.

The member 8 is rectangular in `cross section and hasl the central aortion abuttin l against the 'lower' face of the lower rung,

and said member 8 .is positioned with respect to the rung, so/that'it will project beyond eachside of 'the riti-ng..` rlh'e'facing 9, is of less length than the length of the niember 8, and is so arranged with respect to the that the termini of the member 9 will be positioned above the termini of the member 8 The rubber faced member 8 in addition to forming a support engaging member also operates as a brace for the lower end of the ladder, and is secured at its ends to the inner faces of said side bars as shown in Fig. 2 and engaged midway its ends with the lowermost rung of the ladder.

,A rope l0 is secured at one end to the upper end of the ladder and may be used for attaching the ladder to a tree or for lowering a basket or other container.

In the form shown in Fig. 4i the ladder 20 is composed of rectilinear side bars 22 and 23 which converge toward their upper ends meeting at a sharp point as shown vat 2l. The rungs 26 which connect these side bars decrease in length from the lower to the uppermost end. Each of the side bars 22, 28, is provided at its lower end with a pyramidal cap member 27, which is similar VLl() .the brace 28, in the saine manner as its lower face with a rubber protecting member 29, preferably composed of rubber and is for the same purpose as the members 8 and 9 shown in Fig. 1.- The brace 28 is rectangular in cross section, and the protect-4 ing membel1 29 is arranged with respect to ing 9, with respect to the member 8.

A rope l0 is also connected to the upper end of one of the side bars `of the ladder 2O and is designed for the -same purpose asvthe corresponding member of Fig. 1. p

While this ladder isprimarily intended for use in pruning trees of thick growth it obviously may be used for many other purposes and being very light in structure may be handled with one vhand and the form shown in Fig. 4; usedas a protective weapon should occasion demand. y

p In the use of this ladder in connection with priming or picking fruit from citrus trees the reducedupper end of the ladder may be employed to force its way between the close branches to afford-an opening for the pruner without in any way injuring the tree and when it is used ,in connection with large trees `it may be mounted on one of the larger li bs by resting the protected support engaging member 8 or 28 on the limb with the spurred ends of the side bars disposed on opposite sides thereof. The pro` tecting facing 9 or 29 will operate to prevent barlring'or .scarring of the limb which supports the ladder.

the fac- The preferred embodimenty of the invention is disclosed in the drawings and set forth in the specification, but it will be understood that any modifications within the scope of the claimed invention may be made in the construction without departing from the principle of the invention of sacrificing any of its advantages.

What is claimed is l. A ladder comprising a pair of side bars connected together at theiriipper ends and having the remaining portion of theirl length spaced apart7 spaced cylindrical superposed rungs spanning the space between said bars and secured toi the latter,-an archshaped brace rectangular in cross section interposed between and secured vto thelower end terminal portions vof said bars, said brace having its central portion abutting against the lowerniost one of said'irungs Vand projecting beyond each side thereof.

2. A ladder comprisinga pair of side bars connected together at their upper ends and having the remaining portion of their length spaced apart, spaced cylindrical superposed rungs spanningthe space between said bars and secured tothe latter, an arch-shaped brace rectangular in cross section'interposed between and secured to the lower end terminal portions of said bars, said brace having its central portion abutting against the lowermost one of said rungs and projecting beyond each side thereof, a protective element secured to the lower face of and corresponding lin contour to the shape of the brace, the side edges of said element being ,flush with' the sideedges of the brace. i v

ture hereto.

'FRANK viiNiEao.

soi 

